MANSFIELD — Bryce Hudson admires the way fire fighters risk their lives to help others.
Tuesday, he was exposed to that role with the Mansfield Fire Department.
Bryce, a freshman at Mansfield Senior High School, was thrown into the proverbial fire while the learning the ins and outs of fire duty and community safety.
He watched as the MFD helped victims of an accident where the car rolled over. The department helped another man on the side of the road who had trouble breathing, as well as a woman having a seizure.
“Bryce got to see how the tow truck company is able to upright that vehicle. That’s another branch of the safety services,” said Captain Dave Compton, Bryce’s mentor for the day. “Tow truck companies do a fantastic job clearing the scenes like that to limit the amount of oil and antifreeze that was on the road.”
The high school and fire department coordinate each year to host several fire fighters for the day. The MFD has three blocks of firefighters, each block typically gets one Mansfield Schools freshman each per year.
Those interested in the day must write an essay which is read by firefighters. Each essay, Compton said, must show why they would benefit from a day in the life as a firefighter.
“It’s nice to have some high schoolers come in and be exposed to new things. Bryce hadn’t seen that stuff before. We had to use a little geometry in the process,” Compton said. “I told him, when he takes that (in school) he’ll have a better appreciation for things. A lot of things you learn in school (we do everyday). Everything you learn in school you can relate to this job.”
Bryce said he is considering being a firefighter because of his admiration and respect for the profession.
“I just like the way they are brave. They’ll go out and risk their lives for somebody else’s,” he said. “I feel like I want to do that. Help people out in my community. I feel it would be neat to be a firefighter because there are a lot of things you get to do and a lot of new things I’d get to see.”
After his day of firefighting, Bryce said he remained enthralled with the idea.
“Yes, sir,” he said.
